Objective

. To know the perception of the inhabitants about the "red knees" tarantula (Brachypelma smithi) in the Vista Hermosa neighborhood, municipality of Tecpan de Galeana, Guerrero, Mexico. Materials and methods. 51 inhabitants of the Vista Hermosa neighborhood were interviewed. The questions were oriented to the knowledge of the population about the arachnid. Results. In the inhabitants, an average of 25.23±12.16 years was recorded, with a minimum of less than 16 years and a maximum of 59 years. The 37.2% of the population are originally from Tecpan de Galeana, 72.5% have children, 84% belong to the Catholic population and 90% have their own home. The majority are women (86.27%), with primary education (41.18%), occupation as housewives (49.02%) and 3 to 5 children (41.18%). Most of the surveyed population mention finding the tarantula once a year (76.47%), during the rainy season (60.78%) and they are orange with black (62.75%). For their part, most of the respondents mention removing the tarantula from their home (50.98%) and another part of the population kills it (43.14%). In this sense, a high percentage considers them dangerous and the entire population is unaware of the existence of the red knee tarantula, as well as that it is harmless. Conclusions. The urbanization of the Vista Hermosa neighborhood, municipality of Tecpan de Galeana actively influences the extinction of the Mexican red knee tarantula (Brachypelma smithi).

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